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A real estate investment trust (a REIT) is a common form of real estate investments. In general, a REIT is a company that generally owns and operates income-producing properties or real estate-related assets. These properties and assets are brought together to create a larger fund that can invest in bigger real estate projects than individuals are usually able to do.

There are a number of types of REITs that specialize in different types of properties, including equity REITS, mortgage REITs, and hybrid REITs. REITs may be traded on public exchanges, where stocks and bonds are sold and purchased, but not all are: non-traded REITs are also available but may be riskier than traded REITs, as they are not required to provide financial information to the public.

Patricia Uceda is a third-year student in the Investor Advocacy Clinic graduating in spring 2015. She enjoyed her time in the clinic last spring and is returning as a graduate research assistant for the fall 2014 semester.

The experience I received in the Clinic has been extremely rewarding. I’ve been able to assist clients by conducting research on their behalf and working with them on a weekly basis to find solutions to their problems. I’ve conducted discovery and reviewed extensive account documents from broker-dealers, and have even sent my first demand letter. I am excited to see what this year has in store, and look forward to helping our clients further.

Patricia is looking forward to entering the legal community in Atlanta upon graduation in spring of 2015.

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Phishing is a type of scam in which fraudsters (a.k.a. phishers) use spam emails or other types of communication methods (e.g., automated voicemail messages or cold calls) to obtain sensitive personal and financial information from unsuspecting individuals. Phishers are able to obtain this information through the use of false or exaggerated statements or claims in order to force people to react and give up something of value or some right that they hold.

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A Ponzi scheme is an investment scam that involves the payment of purported returns to existing investors from funds contributed by new investors. Fraudsters tend to advertise these types of scams by promising to invest funds from investors in opportunities with high returns and no risks, and continue to attempt to attract new investors in order to make the promised payments to earlier stage investors. In this way, fraudsters essentially create a pyramid of investors who have provided funding at various stages, with the newest investors paying the older investors. Ponzi schemes tend to collapse when the fraudsters are no longer able to recruit new investors or when a large number of investors asks to cash out.